Aerosol valve actuator

ABSTRACT

A dispenser for aerosol containers comprising a container end wall member having a bore therethrough and an upstanding rim provided with spaced slots. A shank extends through the bore and is provided with a valve at its inner end and a flexible operating member at its outer end. The operating member has a downwardly flaring flexible skirt with the marginal edges thereof bearing against the outer surface of the end wall member to flexibly urge the shank outwardly and seat the valve. The marginal edges of the skirt have diametrically opposed projections which normally engage the interior of the rim to prevent actuation of the valve. The operating member must be rotated to align the projections with the slots in the rim before the operating member may be depressed to unseat the valve and effect dispensing of the aerosol contents.

United States Patent lnventor Joseph M. Rait Buffalo, N.Y.

App]. No. 871,466

Filed Oct. 27, 1969 Nov. 16, 1971 Pelorex Corporation Buffalo, N.Y.

Patented Assignee 3,062,411 11/1962 Miles 222/402.1|X 3,180,536 4/1965Meshberg 222/402.llX

Primary Examiner- Robert B. Reeves Assistant Examiner--Larry MartinAttorney-Christel & Bean ABSTRACT: A dispenser for aerosol containerscomprising a container end wall member having a bore therethrough and anupstanding rim provided with spaced slots. A shank extends through thebore and is provided with a valve at its inner end and a flexibleoperating member at its outer end. The operating member has a downwardlyflaring flexible skirt with the marginal edges thereof bearing againstthe outer surface of the end wall member to flexibly urge the shankoutwardly and seat the valve. The marginal edges of the skirt havediametrically opposed projections which normally engage the interior ofthe rim to prevent actuation of the valve. The operating member must berotated to align the projections with the slots in the rim before theoperating member may be depressed to unseat the valve and effectdispensing of the aerosol contents.

PATENTEB 16 3, 620.425

FAG-E5.

IN VIJN'IK m.

JOSEDH M. RAIT ATTORNEY AEROSOL VALVE ACTUATOR BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION This invention relates to dispensing closure consfructions forcontainers and, more particularly, to closures for pressurizeddispensing containers of the aerosol type.

This invention constitutes an improvement in the dispensers of Us. Pat.Nos. 3,283,961 and 3,343,729, granted to Joseph M. Rait.

In providing a satisfactory closure for a dispensing container, the twoprime considerations are an adequate leakproof seal for the contents andthe pressurizing gas and low manufacturing cost. The necessity for ahighly eflective closure in the case of pressurized containers isobvious and the importance of low cost relates directly to the types ofproducts which may be economically vended in pressurized containers.Normally, low-priced products cannot be sold in pressurized containersunless the container cost is in keeping with the permissible sales priceof the entire package.

A large potential field of use of aerosol or other pressurizeddispensing containers is virtually unexploited because of the cost of anadequate dispensing valve closure of any of the types currentlyavailable. This field of potential use is in relatively small sizedcontainers which, with commonly used products such as shaving cream, forexample, must be sold for a very low price to be competitive. Yet theusefulness of aerosol-dispensing techniques is, if anything, greater insmall containers than in relatively larger size containers sincepressure dispensing of toiletries, cosmetics and the like serves itsgreatest needs in business and vacation travel, camping and other useswhere small size is an especially important consideration. Obviously,the selling prices of a small-sized package must be proportionately lowand this emphasizes the need for a low-cost dispensing means. Theinventions claimed and disclosed in US. Pat. Nos. 3,283,961 and3,343,729 satisfied this need by providing new and improved closures forsmall-sized dispensing containers of the aerosol type which fell withinthe permissible price range of an entire pressurized package.

One problem encountered in the use of these dispensing containers, moreparticularly in the case of certain contents, is that the dispensingclosure is generally exposed and susceptible to accidental, negligent orinadvertent engagement or abutment whereby the operating member foractivating the valve may be unintentionally depressed. For example, thepressurized product is often accidentally dispensed during shipment, orhandling, or while being packaged. Children will sometimes dispense someof the pressurized product in the course of playing with the container.Dropping the container or placing other articles on top of the containermay result in accidental discharge of the pressurized contents therein.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The dispensing closure of the presentinvention, as hereinafter described, provides a solution to the aboveproblem by providing a new and improved dispensing closure, which issimple and strong in construction, low in cost, rugged and durable inuse, and includes a safety means for precluding the accidental orunintentional dispensing of pressurized contents from within thecontainer.

Generally speaking, the dispensing closure of the present inventioncomprises a container including a top end wall member with a centralbore therein and a slotted flange or guard rim integral with andextending upwardly from the peripheral edge of such top end wall member.A closure and operating member consists of a shank extending generallyaxially through the central bore of the top member and has anenlargement at its inner end which forms a valve and seats against aninwardly facing valve seat which is a part of or disposed against theinner face of the top end wall member of the container.

The outer end of the shank is secured to the operating member which hasa downwardly flaring skirt portion extending radially outwardly andaxially inwardly toward the container top end wall member to bearmarginally against the outer surface of such top end wall member. A pairof diametrically opposed ears extend radially outwardly from the bottomor marginal edge of the flaring skirt portion of the operating memberand coact with the interior of the rim of the top end wall member toprevent actuation of the valve and inadvertent discharge of thecontainer contents. The operating member must be rotated to dispensingposition wherein the projections are aligned with the slots in the rimbefore the operating member can be depressed to effect dispensing.

The members forming the closure and operating member may readily bemolded of synthetic resin or other material and it is particularlyimportant that the frustoconical portion and flaring skirt portion ofthe operating member be of plastic material, such as polyethylene forexample, which is normally relatively rigid but which, at least as tothe thinner portions of such skirt, is resilient and serves as a returnspring by reason of such resilience.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. I is a vertical sectional viewtaken centrally through one form of a container and dispensing closurecombination constructed in accordance with the principles of the presentinvention illustrating the operating member in a position whereindispensing operation is prevented;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, vertical sectional view taken similarly to FIG.I but showing the operating member in a rotated position wherein thesame may be operated; and

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the operating memberand the guard rim of the top end wall member oriented in a dispensingposition to permit dispensing.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT For the general purposes of thedisclosure of the principles of the present invention, it may be assumedthat the container of the embodiment illustrated herein is generallycylindrical although it is to be understood that the safety or lockingmeans which forms the subject matter of the invention may be appliedwith equal effect to containers of other shapes and forms. ln'FlG. l thenumeral 15 designates a tubular or hollow cylindrical container bodyhaving an integral bottom end wall 16 and a top end wall member 17which, in the present instance, has an annular groove 18 in itsunderside which fits over the upper end of body 15.

The top end wall 17 may be permanently secured to body 15 by the use ofan adhesive, by heat-sealing the same, or in any other desired manner.In the alternative, the top end wall 17 may be integral with thecylindrical body 15 and the bottom end wall 16 may be a separate closuremember in which case the valve member and the contents will beintroduced to the container through the bottom prior to the applicationof the bottom wall. The terms top, bottom, upper, lower, upwardly,downwardly, and the like, as used herein, are applied only forconvenience of description with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 and shouldnot be taken as limiting the scope of the invention.

The top surface of the top end wall 17 is flat and wall 17 is providedwith a central bore 19. Top end wall 17 is provided with a flange or rim20, preferably integral with the top end wall 17, projecting upwardlyfrom and around the peripheral edge thereof. A pair of diametricallyopposed openings or notches 21 and 22 are provided in rim 20 for apurpose hereinafter explained.

The principal component of the container closure and dispensing means isdesignated generally 23 and comprises an axially extending shank 24loosely extending through and rotatably journaled in the central bore 19of top end wall 17. The shank 24 has a generally discoidal valveenlargement 25 at its inner end and a manual operating member 26attached to its outer end. A washer 24 may be interposed between valve25 and the opposed interior wall of member 17. Operating member 26comprises an annular frustoconical flange portion 28 having a downwardlyflaring skirt portion 29 at its lower end and a pair of diametricallyopposed, substantially flat ears of projections 30 and 31 extendingradially outwardly from the marginal edge of the skirt portion andadapted to be received in slots 21 and 22 of rim 20 for a purposehereinafter explained. A perforation 32 in frustoconical portion 28comprises the dispensing outlet port of the device.

The upper or outer end of shank 24 has a reduced portion 34 providedwith a head formation 35 and the central opening in the operating member26 is stepped, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, so that assembly of shank 24with respect to the operating member 26 may be effected by inserting theupper or outer end of shank 24 through the opening in operating member26 and the resilience of the latter will cause the head formation 35 tosnap into assembled position. This assemblywill be effected after shank24 has been assembled upwardly through the opening in top end wallmember 17.

The natural resilience of the thermoplastic material from which theoperating member 26 is molded is such that, while generally fairly rigidand self-sustaining it has sufficient flexibility so that the relativelythin skirt portion 29 may spread flexibly upon the application ofdownward manual pressure on the operating member 26. Furthermore, thisnatural resilience will cause operating member 26 to normally assume theclosed position illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 wherein the valve issecurely seated and the contents of the container are retained againstegress.

In F IG. 1, the free ends of the diametrically opposed projections 30and 31 are shown abutting the inner surface of rim 20 and are preventedfrom sliding radially upon the application of pressure to the manualoperating member 26. Thus, the rim 20 serves as a safety guard topreclude accidental or inadvertent valve actuation and the resultingrelease of the pressurized contents in the container body 15. When it isdesired to release the pressurized contents, the operating member 26 ismanually rotate relative to the top end wall member 17 until projections30 and 31 of the operating member are aligned with the slots 21 and 22of rim 20. Then, downward manual pressure anywhere about the top ofoperating member 26 will allow the depending skirt portion 29 to spreadflexibly because the projections 30 and 31 are free to slide radially inslots 21 and 22, respectively.

Shank 24 may then move axially inwardly to unseat valve 25 or, inalternative designs, may move to an inclined position to tilt valve 25from a seated position. Material under pressure within the containerwill thus move over the upper side of the displaced or tilted valve,through the bore 19 in top end wall member 17 about shank 24, anddischarge through perforation 32. If a more pronounced and positivetilting action of shank 24 is desired, the central bore 19 in to endwall member 17 may be of an hourglass form.

The manual operating member and the top end wall member may take variousforms, shaped or configurations within the purview of this invention,the significant feature residing in the provision of an upstandingslotted rim about the peripheral edge of the top end wall member and thecooperating projections about the marginal edge of the operating member.Although two diametrically opposed slots and projections areconveniently employed for most purposes, it will be understood that anynecessary or desired number may be used and that they may be arranged inany suitable pattern and formed in any suitable shape.

rotated to align the projectingfars with the slots provided in the nmbefore the valve can actuated to effect dispensing of the pressurizedcontents.

A preferred embodiment of this invention has been described andillustrated herein but is to be understood that numerous modificationsmay be made without departing from the broad spirit and scope of thisinvention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A dispensing closure structure for pressurized containers comprisinga container having an end wall member provided with a bore and inner andouter annular surfaces surrounding said bore, said end wall memberhaving a rim extending upwardly from said outer annular surface, saidrim having at least one opening therein, a shank slidably and rotatablyjournaled in said bore and having a flexible operating means at itsouter end formed of resilient material and having a discharge passage,said operating means including a skirt having a marginal edge disposedin substantially slidable abutment with said annular outer surface in aradial direction and the remainder of said operating means beingnormally axially spaced outwardly from said end wall member wherebydownward pressure thereon flexes said operating means and moves saidskirt radially outwardly, a valve at the inner end of said shank andnormally biased outwardly against said inner annular surface of said endwall member by the resiliency of said operating means to seal thepressurized contents of the container, at least one projection extendingradially outwardly from the marginal edge of said skirt and cngageablewith an inner surface of said rim whereby radial sliding movement ofsaid marginal edge of said operating means skirt is prevented; saidoperating means being rotatable to bring said projection into alignmentwith said opening of said rim and then depressible by flexure thereof topermit outward radial sliding movement of said marginal edge of saidoperating means relative to said end wall member to unseat the valve anddispense material from said container through said discharge passage.

2. A dispensing closure structure as defined in claim 1 wherein the rimof said end wall member has a plurality of openings and said operatingmeans has a corresponding plurality of projections.

3. A dispensing closure structure as defined in claim 1 wherein saidoperating means comprises an annular flange portion having a downwardlyflaring skirt portion at the lower end thereof.

4, A dispensing closure structure as defined in claim 3 wherein saidouter annular surface of said end wall member is flat and said rimextends substantially normal to said outer annular surface around theperipheral edge thereof.

5. A dispensing closure structure as defined in claim 4 wherein saidprojection of said operating means is flat and disposed substantiallyparallel to said outer annular surface of said end wall member.

6. A dispensing closure structure as defined in claim 5 wherein saidprojection overlies said outer annular surface of said end wall memberand is in slidable engagement therewith.

1. A dispensing closure structure for pressurized containers comprisinga container having an end wall member provided with a bore and inner andouter annular surfaces surrounding said bore, said end wall memberhaving a rim extending upwardly from said outer annular surface, saidrim having at least one opening therein, a shank slidably and rotatablyjournaled in said bore and having a flexible operating means at itsouter end formed of resilient material and having a discharge passage,said operating means including a skirt having a marginal edge disposedin substantially slidable abutment with said annular outer surface in aradial direction and the remainder of said operating means beingnormally axially spaced outwardly from said end wall member wherebydownward pressure thereon flexes said operating means and moves saidskirt radially outwardly, a valve at the inner end of said shank andnormally biased outwardly against said inner annular surface of said endwall member by the resiliency of said operating means to seal thepressurized contents of the container, at least one projection extendingradially outwardly from the marginal edge of said skirt and engageablewith an inner surface of said rim whereby radial sliding movement ofsaid marginal edge of said operating means skirt is prevented; saidoperating means being rotatable to bring said projection into alignmentwith said opening of said rim and then depressible by flexure thereof topermit outward radial sliding movement of said marginal edge of saidoperating means relative to said end wall member to unseat the valve anddispense material from said container through said discharge passage. 2.A dispensing closure structure as defined in claim 1 wherein the rim ofsaid end wall member has a plurality of openings and said operatingmeans has a corresponding plurality of projections.
 3. A dispensingclosure structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said operating meanscomprises an annular flange portion having a downwardly flaring skirtportion at the lower end thereof.
 4. A dispensing closure structure asdefined In claim 3 wherein said outer annular surface of said end wallmember is flat and said rim extends substantially normal to said outerannular surface around the peripheral edge thereof.
 5. A dispensingclosure structure as defined in claim 4 wherein said projection of saidoperating means is flat and disposed substantially parallel to saidouter annular surface of said end wall member.
 6. A dispensing closurestructure as defined in claim 5 wherein said projection overlies saidouter annular surface of said end wall member and is in slidableengagement therewith.